Sacred Corn or Wild Grass, Teocintli

16052010

Regardless of the origins, we know that this word has been used for thousands of years and is still used today to describe a wild grass know as “teosinte”. Other than the fact that this word dates back thousands of years, what is more amazing is “In creating modern maize from this unpromising plant, Indians performed a feat so improbable that archaeologists and biologists have argued for decades over how it was achieved.” (Mann, p. 20, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus)

To the Nahuas of Mexico, the word Teocintl means sacred corn. Another writer describes where he thinks this term Teocintl may have it’s origins.